I've Been to the Mountain Top...

1) rickety wooden ascent 2) Mindy at Old Man's Cave Chalet office 3) The mantle in our chalet I slept a lot deeper and woke feeling very rested. It was 8am. That same familiar drip continued to echo off the roof top and windows. It was still raining. I crawled down the rickety wood ladder to begin the morning’s activities. I brushed my teeth, pee’d, took a vitamin, and made some coffee. Before I knew it, I was on the other side of my exercise regiment sipping my first cup of coffee. By then, Mindy was already down the ladder and in the restroom. I managed to snap a couple of pictures as she descended from the loft in her jammies and bed head. Once again, I slid open the sliding glass doors to take in the morning air and to get a feel for the temperature. It was surprisingly mild once again. Apparently the predicted temperature drop was still off to our west. We turned on the TV mostly for background noise but eventually saw a forecast that showed dryer air and colder temps just off to our north and west. This was the fourth day in a row of almost continuous rain, clouds, and warm temps. Moving on, Mindy and I found ourselves captivated by a TV talk show featuring a Doctor of something or other interviewing psychic twins. The piece was especially gripping. By 9:30am I found my running clothes and readied for a run. This time I went the opposite direction from our chalet knowing all to well what was lied ahead. I knew from our drive to Conkle’s Hollow that there was one hell of a hill just ahead. This hill was probably a mile long with a few twists and turns. Since our chalet sat atop the hill, the first half was all downhill and comparatively simple. The return to the top – not so easy to say the least. After finding my way to the bottom, I made a quick turn and headed back up. And for the first time I can ever recall, I HAD to stop about halfway up. I literally thought that my heart might pop. Plus, I was completely winded. I stopped only long enough to catch my breath then set out once again. This time not looking at the crest but instead at my feet. I stopped yet again for a brief moment with ¼ of the hill to go. From there I was good. I ran on past the chalet and down yesterday’s trail until I came to the next big hill. I didn’t have another big hill in me, however, so I turned around and headed back. Mindy said that I was gone exactly 30 minutes. My guess is that I did only about three miles but they were far tougher than my usual 5 miles. I was beat! Just like the day before, Mindy had breakfast waiting when I returned. We had bacon and scrambled eggs. Immeiately following breakfast we began loading the Trooper and showering for departure. Mindy had packed most of the food while I was running. We checked high and low, under and over everything, not wanting to leave something valuable behind. We checked out at 11:05am. We drove ten miles or so to the office along route 664 which was on our way back towards route 33 anyway. The check-out process was an easy one. Mindy let them know about the mouse eating our hamburger buns and about the bathroom sink drain not working properly. Mindy thought they seemed concerned and interested, but the faces I saw were almost patronizing. But it doesn’t really matter. We just wanted to share. It continued raining the entire way back towards Columbus. It rained so hard at times that I thought we might have to pull over given the complicated terrain, but we didn’t. Our next stop was The Diamond Cellar. Just as we reentered Columbus the clouds began to disperse and the rain stopped. It was just after lunch time. We both went in to the Diamond Cellar and quickly picked up Mindy’s ring. It looked perfect. While there, she was insistent on looking at wedding bands. I humored her. There we met Ken, the salesman, since my pal Lee doesn’t work on Monday’s. Ken took special interest in us and showed us all sorts of wedding bands. The prices ranged any where from about $250 to about $2600. The more expensive rings held lots of small diamonds, where as the less expensive were simply bands of white gold. He was wise to focus most of his attention on Mindy. I couldn’t care less whether I have a ring or not. Still, towards the end, he showed us the “male” options. And by the way, in case anyone is interested, Mindy wears a 3.25 and I wear an 11.0. :) We left the D.C. around 2pm for home. We stopped for gas just off the freeway. Gas was only $2.04. Once home we made quick work of the unpack process. We tried hard to be finished before the kids arrived home, which was at 3pm. The dynamics change considerably when the two little ones are there. At 3pm they arrived. We entertained them and they entertained us. Sometime around 5pm Mindy began making dinner. She made fried onion burgers – no bun. I walked Ykraps just before we sat for dinner. I wanted that out of the way. Too, the kids wanted a fire so I built a rip roaring fire to add to the homey atmosphere. It was nice. After dinner, clean-up, and jammie time we played for another hour. I wrestled with Jacob at his insistence. Soon, Bella joined in, too. Something about hiding Jacob’s pajama bottoms in the cupboards got Bella crying profusely. She was certain that I threw them away. She screamed to high heaven about how mean I was. A minute or two later she was fine. The kids went to bed around 7:45 via the traditional read and tuck. Mindy and I returned to the family room where we enjoyed the fire and exchanged back rubs. My neck was so stiff that I could barely turn my head, and despite taking my anti-inflammatory, my shoulder and mid- back ached fiercely. Mindy tried rubbing in several different spots and tried a handful of techniques to help relieve the mounting pain, but nothing seemed to work. She rubbed the normal knots but could never seem to hit the epicenter of pain. After rubbing her back for 15 minutes, I asked her to push hard on my spine all the way up my back. Next, I had her dig into the top of my shoulder. Suddenly and unexpectedly, the almost unbearable pain just stopped. Gone was my stiff neck and the tension I felt all across my back and shoulders. Wow! That’s a miracle! I have lived with similar stiff necks and back pain for days on end until it subsided naturally. I wasn’t sure what specifically she did to cause it to stop, but I do know this. It felt great! We’ll try the same thing the next time. We headed to bed right at 10pm, but I wasn’t tired. After a few minutes of snuggling, I got up and went down stairs to read. After reading for twenty minutes I began to doze off. I headed back to bed where I found myself wide awake again. However, minutes later I drifted off to sleep.

The long and winding road...

1) Mindy & Jimmy Caving 2) lush and green 3) the entrance to Conkle's Hollow ZZZZ! ZZZZ! ZZZZ! Man did we sleep late! We didn’t crack a dedicated eye toward daylight until almost 9:30am. Neither of us could believe it was that late. I’m certain that the limited light had as much to do with it as the fact that both of us were simply exhausted. It was still raining, too. So the sound of the gentle rain against the roof and skylight did nothing but further promote the desire to sleep in. But my day had to begin! I needed to exercise and eventually head out for an exciting run in beautiful Hocking Hills. Even though Mindy was awake, I tried my best to be somewhat quiet as I carried on with my morning routine. But that proved difficult given the openness of the chalet. I made coffee and found my tennis shoes. I moved the natural wood coffee table out of the way so that I could tuck my toes and crank out my sit-ups. Just as I finished my push-ups, Mindy joined me. I slid the sliding glass doors open to check the air temperature. It was surprisingly warm. It felt like it was 60 degrees despite what was forecast (mid 40’s). Since Friday afternoon, we’ve been living in a very “Glenn-like” climate. Moderate temps, constant light rain, and gray skies. We had a couple cups of coffee before I readied for a run. Mindy began cooking some maple bacon and scrambled eggs just before I left. I told her to come looking for me if I wasn’t back in 30-35 minutes. Although I was joking, the possibility that something could happen weighed on my mind. I took off to what I later would learn was to the west. Almost immediately I ran into very hilly terrain that challenged my stamina. I’ve run hills before however, and knew all to well what it would take. It’s as much about technique as it is about having enough energy. Lucky for me, the first few slopes were gradual and helped me get a good lather going. The further I went, the more curvy and more hilly the terrain became. I realized, too, while descending a long curvy hill that I would eventually have to pay the piper by going back up. Running down steep inclines isn’t that easy either. It requires a different technique. But in the end, nothing zaps ones energy like running up a long, steep incline. My heart was racing faster than ever as I conquered the first big hill. I was careful not to over exert myself ( I think). I took a road called Chillcote, and another named Cupp Rd. I ran each direction on both roads until I hit steep inclines. Each time I turned around knowing that I had a couple of nasty inclines to navigate in my return. I needed to save my energy. Finally, I could see our chalet in the distance. That was a site for sore eyes. I was a bit over dressed, too, truth be told. While it was wet and rainy, it was a warm and humid rain, and I’m sure the temperature was close to 60 degrees. When I made it back, Mindy said I was gone exactly 35 minutes. I was awfully sweaty and happy to be back. Breakfast was ready and smelt terrific! Mindy asked how I felt about Mimosas. Are you kidding me? Hell yes! I popped the cork on our bottle of Spumante’ and happily poured two mimosas with orange pineapple banana juice. We ended up having two each. After cleaning up our breakfast mess and just before readying for a rainy hike, we got in the hot tub. The tub was about the same size as ours at home. The difference was the water quality. The water in this one, while I am sure it was clean, was ultra foamy. It left me with an unclean feeling, real or imagined, sitting there in a warm pool of foam. Can you say Mr Bubble! We stayed in about ten minutes. After our soak, we changed into our hiking attire. We were wise enough to bring our snow ski waterproof/resistant gear. I didn’t bring my water proof boots, however, but noticed that Mindy did. I was more concerned with traction. We left after packing only water, nuts, camera, and candy. We didn’t figure on being gone all that long given the inclement weather. Out the door, we drove towards Conkle’s Hollow, which judging by the map was only minutes from our chalet. We weren’t sure if we would take the gorge trail, the rim trail, or perhaps even both. Somehow we got turned around and headed the wrong way for about a mile. Lucky for us, we caught our mistake quickly and rebounded. And just as expected, Conkle’s Hollow was just a couple minutes from our chalet. Just as we pulled up the rain came down as hard as it had all weekend, Friday included. We chuckled at the irony. Dressed for rain, we got out to do our hike anyhow. My spirits were only slightly dampened by the thought of my camera getting wet. Starting out, at least we were plenty warm and water resistant. The park was surprisingly populated with other hikers dawning similar gear. There were even couples with babies in strollers that were toughing out the rain. Because of the heavy rain, we selected the gorge trail. It’s only a half mile each way compared to 2.5 miles for the rim trail. We trudged forward in a downpour. The last time I hiked the Hollow it was about 90 and sunny. Too, the trail in the gorge was natural. Now, they’ve installed what amounts to a concrete sidewalk that winds almost to the trails end terminating just a couple hundred yards short. There’s something peculiar about hiking on a perfectly poured concrete walk! The sites were still something to behold. The place simply amazes me each time. I noticed too that much more light gets to the gorge floor during winter. In summer it’s almost always dark in the gorge. I took about thirty pictures while on the hike, although I was skeptical of their quality. We’ll see! I was careful not to get my camera wet as moisture is its single biggest enemy aside from a long hard drop. We hiked back out of the Hollow. We were gone about one hour exactly. I asked Mindy if she was up for the Rim trail. She was not. I didn’t blame her, though. The weather was a big factor. Despite our water resistant ski gear, we were getting wet. We learned that our gear is much more effective in the cold. Instead, we decided to head back to our chalet and exchange back rubs, play more cards, and drink some wine and beer. That sounded amazingly good! We were back in a jiffy! I wasted little time getting out of my wet attire and back into my PJ’s. We tuned into some college basketball while waiting on the 8pm football game. We couldn't watch the early Seattle game because we couldn't get Fox in the Hills. We were able to listen via radio, however. While listening, we played another game of euchre (I won again). We exchanged back rubs too. Around 6pm we began making our dinner. We had boneless chicken breast sautéed in butter and garlic then topped with a can of cream of chicken soup diluted with 2/3’s a can of half & half. Additionally, we enjoyed a garden salad and green beans. Later, for dessert, we had keylime pie! Incidentally, the Seahawks blew their chance to beat the silly Bears. I was surprised that the Bears won another close game. They just don’t seem like a Super Bowl team. Their day’s coming! After dinner, we tuned the TV to the Patriots/Chargers game. The Patriots somehow won. They won with smoke and mirrors because the Chargers were clearly the better team. Mindy asked me to play some 500 rummy since she couldn’t beat me in euchre no matter how hard she tried. I could tell that her ego was bruised, so I gleefully played and allowed her to win without letting on. She celebrated ecstatically and was none the wiser. As I always say, a happy wife is a happy life ! :) By then, my half bottle of Jack Daniels was all but gone. I had a pretty good buzz going. We were both ready for bed. Once again, we crawled up the rickety wooden ladder to the loft to take another long winter’s snooze.

Sopping Hocking Hills

1) Our chalet 2) fireplace 3) mom & dogs 4) mom & dogs I woke a number of times but postponed getting out of bed. But come 8:00am I knew that I had to get up and get moving if there was any hope of us hitting the road by 10am. Meanwhile, Mindy remained in bed a little while longer while I exercised and walked Ykraps. The weather was as miserable as predicted. The pond was swollen from the overnight rains and it was expected to continue all weekend long only to a lesser extent. The temps were expected to cool to the mid 40’s, too. Once back at home after our walk, I poured a cup of coffee and relaxed at the PC for a short stint. Mindy found her way downstairs a few minutes later. We briefly discussed our morning strategy then I went and readied for a run. Before leaving, I rounded up the coolers Mindy needed to pack our cold food & beverages. I let for a run at 9:00am. I was back somewhere close to 9:35am. Before going inside, I carried 15 logs from our home wood pile to the back of the Trooper. As I was stacking the wood, Ashley and Olivia arrived to house sit. By the time I made it inside, Mindy was holding Olivia. I poured myself another cup of coffee and then greeted Ashley. By then it was apparent that we weren’t going to make the 10am departure. But Mindy and I both agreed that there was not need to hold ourselves to a strict schedule anyhow. Our Chalet was reserved & check-in wasn’t until 3pm at the earliest. We did, however, tell my mom that we’d be by her place around 1pm. I reckoned we'd simply call her once we left the house. Judging by the time, leaving at 11am now seemed more practical, so that’s what we aimed for. Mindy showered while I packed my personal belongings and then loaded the Trooper. I finished packing the Trooper save for a few last minute items by 10:30am. I made a point to make myself a quick sandwich since I had yet to eat anything. I made a War-Su-Gai sandwich on rye with Ding Ho leftovers. Yummy! After eating, I jumped in the shower and was ready to go 10 minutes later. We left Ashley some cash, grabbed a few last minute items, and left for the hills – Hocking Hills that is! Once we were on I-70E we gave my dad a call just to let him know that we’d be out of town and that Ashley was house sitting. Next, we called my mom to let her know that we were in route. She seemed surprised that we were still making the trip given the extreme wet weather. Lastly, we called Joey (Kaileigh’s daddy) to find out how the wedding and honeymoon went in Ft. Meyers, Fla. We also talked with Kaileigh. She told us all about her Florida trip. She's so sweet! It was a fairly lengthy drive to my mom’s, but the Lancaster by-pass on route 33 made it shorter, quicker, and certainly much more palatable. Aside from the constant rain, it was a leisurely drive. We arrived at mom's 90 minutes and 84 miles after we departed home. I was last at my mom’s in June of 2005 for a short 2-hour visit. In fact, I have been down here only about five or six times total, and maybe only four times in the last ten years. It was stragely the same yet different. Same old dogs (about 12) and about three or four cats. All totaled, the dogs & cats can't weigh in at more than 30 lbs. :) There are about ten Yorkies, a couple frail looking Chihuahuas, and about four cats. A couple of the dogs are deaf and blind, but even still, Mom refuses to put them down. One could use that excuse alone for not visiting. The place was clean but still smelt a bit like, well, dogs! It didn’t smell nearly as bad as Kelly’s place, however. Although, that’s not holding oneself to a very high standard by any stretch of the imagination. Mom seemed in relatively good spirits. She had veggie pizza waiting for us to enjoy. Mindy was really hungry, so we were more than happy to dig in. It was very tasty. We visited for about 2.5 hours all the while watching the OSU basketball game. We talked about her upcoming heart procedure, the kids, and us. Come 3pm we finally left for Hocking Hills. However, just before departing, we asked if she had a road atlas so that we could look for the back way into Old Man’s Cave. That could save us several miles of back tracking. We found it. We could hit it from route 56, which lies only about 15 miles north off route 93. We took a very scenic drive down route 56W – definitely a beautiful drive in any season. From there, we found our way to route 664 and eventually to Old Man’s Cave Chalets. That was about 30 miles from mom’s place. We had to laugh when we checked in and learned that we had to drive ten miles back the same way we came in to get to our secluded chalet, The Elk. With little trouble, we found our secluded getaway. It sat high on a hillside off of a gravely, windy, and hilly back road overlooking acres of woodlands to the east. The chalet was rustic, just as one might expect. It was done up entirely in wood. It had one bedroom, one bath, a living room with a stone fireplace, and a full kitchen. In addition, there was a loft that overlooked the living room, deck, and forest. The entire eastern side was essentially glass. We unloaded our gear rather quickly and eventually served up our favorite alcoholic beverages as we unwound. We had to be nowhere for the next 48 hours. Ahhhh! Come 4:30, I tuned the TV/DVD combo to the Colts/Ravens game. Mindy seemed a little disappointed that I wanted to watch football. I picked up on her queues, however, and made sure to give her plenty of attention. That first evening we played euchre (I won), watched football, and watched a DVD movie (Bull Durham). We had a wonderful first evening. We went to bed near 10:30-11:00pm. We climbed the rickety wood ladder up and into the loft.

Can get enough!

Hallelujah, it’s Friday! I woke feeling rested and rearing to go. It was just after 5:30am, rain was falling in, and the temperature was hovering around 45 degrees. I did what I do every morning; I exercised, walked Ykraps, and made coffee for Mindy. By 6:00am I was ready to meditate, pack lunches, and make breakfast. Mindy and the kids were downstairs a little earlier than usual. In addition to the usual breakfast preparations, I made Jacob one of those blue toaster pastries. He digs 'em. Before they left for school, Mindy suggested I give the kids a big hug since I wouldn’t see them again until late Monday afternoon. I did. I showered and dressed in all of about 15 minutes finding myself downstairs ready to go by 7:35am. I wore my brand new blue jeans – Levi 527’s. These are the first ‘flare’ jeans I have owned and worn since way back in my high school days. They fit well and looked pretty cool. Off to work. Work was surprisingly quiet for a Friday. We were busy but nothing close to how busy most other Friday’s are. And for that I was grateful. Runtime came quickly. Because the temperature approached the mid 50’s, I was back down to my late winter, early fall attire. I was quite comfy. To my advantage, the rain was almost non-existent, although the ground was wet and the air very moist. Great running conditions. I pounded out my run in no time flat. I was back and in a hot shower by 1:35pm. I found my way back to my office well before 2pm. The afternoon was busier than the morning, but I expected that. I took it in stride. As the day wound down my thoughts turned towards our weekend getaway and what I needed to pack and complete prior to departing. Throughout the day I talked with Ashley to confirm her plans to be at our house early Saturday morning. I left for home around 5:10pm. I arrived home just before 5:30pm. It was raining once again, however, not very hard. Mindy was busy prepping for our trip. I quickly stripped myself of my work appendages (blackberry, badge, and phone) then leashed up Ykraps for his Friday evening walk. Mindy joined me. After walking Ykraps, I was looking forward to some down time. I grabbed my book then settled into my reading chair eager to read and get some rest. It wasn’t long before I drifted off to sleep. I didn’t sleep too long though. By 6:30pm I was alert and on my feet. Mindy was already primping for an evening out when I went upstairs. I did the same. It took me only minutes since all I had to do to look like a million dollars was brush my teeth and hair. Downstairs I cracked a Honey Raspberry Ale and published my Thursday blog entry. We left for Barley’s a little after 7pm. It was raining moderately when we arrived, and word had it that it would be raining all weekend long. The bar was sparsely populated but our favorite peeps were there. Bob and Mary Ann were already sipping their first brews. And while Jeremy and Courtney weren’t in attendance, Steve, Scott, and Mark were. They, however, were seated all the way at the other end of the bar. We saw Bob last week but hadn’t seen Mary Ann since the Friday before New Year’s. We caught up on recent events, and we apologized for not making the National Championship Clubhouse party on Monday. To liven up the evening, Bob broke out his Matchbox cars. Soon, the child-like fun began! The bar having a thick wooden curve at the corner made for a slick track for the little cars to follow. Only the smoothest touch would produce a flawless run. The proper technique, however, proved somewhat illusive. We carried on for over an hour until Lee, our server, added his own collection of cars to the mix. We agreed to tie down possible ski trip plans next week with Bob & Mary Ann. Mindy talked about begging out of school to make the trip after all. We’ll see. As the evening wore on, others arrived. Brother Tommy even made a surprise showing. And it wasn't long before Rick showed up. It must have been somewhere after 9pm. We hung out until almost 11pm. Through the night I had three beers; a Xmas Ale, an IPA, and lastly a guest IPA, which I can’t recall the name. For dinner, I had Gates of Hell wings. Mindy had the Lonestar to go along with a glass of Shiraz and a Cherry Porter. We headed home after our fun at the bar. We hoped for more fun once at home, but fell asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillow.

Broken Prong ... and your coolant's low

1) Bella earns a timeout for disobedience 2) Jacob marveling over his blue pastry 3) A broken prong Happy 40th B-Day Bill Gray I was up a little after 5:30am eager to begin my day. I was extra quiet sneaking out of bed for not wanting to wake Mindy. It wasn’t too long before I was downstairs tending to my exercise routine and prepping to walk Ykraps. The temperature was expected to approach 50 degrees again today so I wasn’t sure how cold it might be. I wore my parka and gloves just to be safe. After my walk I poured just one cup of coffee. I was certain that Mindy intended on sleeping in since she wasn’t going to school. Instead, she was going to see her cardiologist. While sipping coffee and beginning to meditate I heard strange noise emanating from what sounded like the kitchen. I broke from my silence and discovered Mindy in the kitchen going to the basement to retrieve her favorite jeans. I told her that I didn’t think I was to wake her. She said I was only somewhat mistaken. She poured her own coffee and headed back upstairs to get in the shower. I began packing my lunch knowing that I didn’t need to pack Mindy’s. I was certain she was having lunch with her friend Teri after her appointment. I packed tuna fish salad again today. I took the chance that Mindy would still want breakfast, although I wasn’t 100% sure. One thing’s for sure, I didn’t want to further alienate her. She, I could tell, was a little sensitive today with her pending appointment. Turns out, she was hungry and wanted fed. Good deal! We ate our breakfast together. And just like always, the kids were up extra early this morning. In fact, Jacob was up at 6:15 playing his game boy. Not much later, Bella was up making noise. Mindy’s appointment wasn’t until 9am. She was not leaving before me today. Jimaken came to pick-up Jacob and take him to school right on time. He was there at 7:45am. My car was already warming when he pulled up. I left for work at 7:50am. Work was fairly busy but not nearly as bad as it could be. Today was Bill Gray’s B-day but I forgot. However, I did call and leave him a message on his cell phone making him a ware of a customer issue I knew he’d want to be party to. Later, I wished I had wished him a happy b-day too. Mindy called around 9:45am but I missed her call. I promptly called her back after I realized I had missed her call. Immediately, I could tell by her tone that things went well. Sure enough, her heart was fine and wasn’t the cause of her symptoms. She was very relieved. Truth be told, I was a little concerned, too, but never let on. I figured she was worrying enough for the both of us and besides, I needed to be strong and positive for her. I was relieved to hear the news. The doctor thinks that it might be hormonal. The remainder of the morning went relatively fast and before I knew it, it was time to run. It was 43 degrees just before I headed down. I was very happy to see that. And just as important, the sun was shining. Even though it was ten degrees warmer than the day before, I still wore my wind shirt under my jacket and skinny ear covers. I didn’t wear gloves, however. And since there was as a stiff wind blowing from the west, the extra layer wasn’t too much. On the return I simply vented my jacket more. I was comfy! After lunch I was determined to run three quick errands that have been bugging me. I headed to the bank to cash a dividend check, Jiffy Lube to have my oil changed, then the post office to mail my proof of insurance paperwork. I was relieved to put that behind me. On my way to the post office, my last stop, Mindy called. She reported that a prong had broken off of her engagement ring and that she was going to head up to the Diamond Cellar to have them fix it. The diamond was still there and still snug according to her. That made me nervous. She asked if I wanted to take care of it instead. I didn’t. I was happy for her to do it. I can only take so much of that kind of stuff. She’s still not sure how she broke the prong. Seemingly minutes later, I called Mindy once again, only this time from my desk while eating my tuna fish. She was already at the Diamond Cellar waiting to be assisted. Long story short, they promised to have the ring ready for pick-up by Monday. I didn’t expect there to be problem. That’s another reason why I shopped the Diamond Cellar. The afternoon went fast due in part to my focus and hard work. I left the office late somewhere after 5:30pm. I called Mindy. She told me that Ashley had called her upbeat about her situation with Stephen. She might even come over with Olivia tonight. I was home by 5:50pm. Mindy was busy prepping food for our weekend getaway and feeding the kids. I told her not to bother making me dinner. She was still full from a big lunch with her friend Teri. I walked Ykraps almost immediately after my arrival home. By the time he and I returned it was after 6pm. Mindy continued in her effort to get as much prepped for our trip and the kids weekend with their dad as possible. I ended up warming some of the Ding Ho leftovers for dinner. It was still tasty, but not as good as fresh. After my dinner Jacob returned downstairs eager for a snack. He was fresh out of the bath tub. He asked for my help with his Blueberry Strudel toaster snacks. I was more than happy to help. They were nasty looking, and that was before the blue icing! After it was toasted I topped it with the individual blue icing packet and served it up on a paper plate. Jacob loved it! Soon Bella was out of the tub and downstairs. While both kids were downstairs, Mindy stayed upstairs sorting laundry and packing their weekend overnight bag. The kids and I wrestled for ten minutes. They both have come a long way. When I met them 16 months ago they were very fragile souls. You definitely couldn’t wrestle with ’em without lots and lots of tears. Today, however, things are much different. Even Bella likes to wrestle. And she’s pretty rough about it, too. We had fun. But all good things must end. While snacking, Bella earned herself a timeout by defiantly testing her mother. She lost! I captured the kodak moment. Soon, Mindy urged the kids to head upstairs for the famous read and tuck. I joined in. Jacob’s reading has improved immensely in just 4 months. By 8pm both kids were asleep in bed. Mindy and I returned downstairs where we sat in the living room. I did two days worth of blogging. As she often does, Mindy was insistent on reading as soon as I was finished. I retreated to the family room where I read a little and snuck a short nap. When Mindy made her way in, I woke up. We sat and talked for awhile and she rubbed the deep know in the middle of my back. We headed to bed together before 10pm. We were both exhausted after a long day.

Coldest day of the year

It was 5:42am by the time I was down the stairs beginning my day. I choked down my One-A-Day then glanced out the back door. The sky was crystal clear revealing a beautiful half moon just southwest of center sky. It looked cold, too! And if memory served me, it was expected to be around 22 degrees. I went about my exercise routine and eventually rounded up Ykraps for our morning walk. Today I was smart enough to wear my winter parka and hand covers. It felt very cold given all the warm temps of late. I could’ve used a hat but I wasn’t complaining. I was plenty warm with my coat and gloves. Back in the house, I poured two cups of coffee and took Mindy’s to our room. She woke just as I placed it on the nightstand. We exchanged good mornings and then back downstairs I went. There, I went through my usual prep process. I made a double batch of tuna fish salad to pack in both of our lunches. A double batch makes four servings, so there would be plenty left for Thursday, too. For breakfast I made fried eggs and cut fruit – pineapple, cantaloupe, and strawberries. Before I could get everything on plates, Mindy and the kids were downstairs milling around the kitchen. I wasn’t in a chatty mood this morning. This seemed to bother Mindy. Nothing was wrong. I just didn’t feel like chatting much. Mindy and the kids soon left. I was left to myself to get ready for work. I took a quick shower and was downstairs ready to go before 7:35am. I remembered to grab the BMV insurance stuff I needed so that I could mail in my proof of insurance. I also packed a check that I needed to cash. I left the house determined to tie up several dangling loose ends. Work was fast and furious. The morning just flew by. By the time our Wednesday staff meeting ended it was 1pm. I wasted little time getting down to the gym. When I left the office the temperature had yet to crack 32 degrees. Once again I wore an extra layer and hand covers. There was a fairly stiff wind out the west that made it feel colder than it was. After I put a wrap on the run, I retreated to my Trooper to grab my insurance card so I could make a copy for the BMV. Glancing at the card as I entered the building revealed that it was last year’s insurance card. Damn! I went back out to see if I had mistakenly placed this year’s card in another zip lock, or something. I couldn’t find it. That’s so out of character for me. I pride myself on always knowing where those records are and keeping everything handy. I must be getting old! This remained in the back of my mind the rest of the afternoon, but I knew I could do little about it while at work. I promised myself that I would look for it until it hurt once home. After a busy afternoon I left for home at my usual 5:10pm. Mindy and I agreed to meet at Ding Ho for dinner. But I needed to stop for gas first. I decided to chance making it to Thornton’s where I knew gas would be significantly cheaper than it is in east Hilliard. I made it to Thornton’s at 5:25pm. The Trooper took 19.65 gallons. Gas was $2.11 – pretty good price. With oil being at $54 a barrel, the price per gallon should be much cheaper if you compare how low prices were the last time it was that cheap. I was at Ding Ho by 5:35pm. Mindy was shopping across the street at Target. She was there to pick-up some cough syrup – no codeine - and a pair of gloves and a new hat for Jacoby. His Xmas cold is still holding on. I sat in silence at Ding Ho for about five solid minutes. There were few customers on board. I noticed the waitresses peaking out, looking for business. Mindy arrived and we were seated quickly. We got the same waitress we had two weeks ago. Surprisingly, she remembered us, too. She said she remembered Mindy for her beauty and me for taking pictures. Too funny! I ordered the same as last time. Mindy ordered something different, but similar. There won-ton soup and egg rolls are to die for. Our meal did not disappoint. We were both more than satisfied. We left, like before, with a ton of leftovers. It was 6:35pm when we got home. I unloaded my running clothes into the dryer and placed my lunch containers on the counter. Next, I leashed up Ykraps for an evening walk. It was again pretty darn crisp and clear. I took notice of how quickly most folks got their Xmas lights down this year. In years past they remained up into February. I suppose all the nice weather’s to be thanked. Just before the kids got home I searched for my insurance card in my 2006 bill container. I found it quickly. Thank God! The kids got home right at 7pm. Before Jim left, Mindy confirmed plans for him to pick Jacob up for school in the morning. Mindy got the kids upstairs and into their pajamas and then into bed. I went up for the read and tuck. They were sound asleep well before 8pm. I changed into my PJ’s and returned downstairs. I was going to tinker with my blog but Mindy wanted some undivided attention. I gave it. She’s was very worried about her doctor’s appointment Thursday. She’s having an EKG to determine if her heart is causing some issues she’s experienced lately. She’s convinced it is, although I think otherwise. Either way, she should know definitively tomorrow morning. Once again, I snuck over to the PC to tinker with my blog format. It’s beyond time for a format change. But Mindy asked for more time and undivided attention. I obliged. She was exhausted from worry and wanted to go to bed. At her request, I tucked her into bed before returning downstairs to read and tinker with my blog format. I read until about 10:10pm then headed to bed.

Blue Tuesday

1) The National Champion, Florida Gators 2) a cozy fire I was up and out of bed by 5:35am doing what I usually do. Nothing about my life had changed – but it wasn’t that I thought anything would either. Still, I couldn’t help but feel a little blue after the beating the Buckeyes took just hours earlier. Not only did we get beat, we got slaughtered in front of the entire world. But I’ll move on. I exercised and then, just like any other day, took Ykraps for his morning stroll. The weather was similar to the day before. The morning air was chilly enough that I really should’ve worn my winter parka, and certainly too chilly for a simple fleece I wore. It was snowing, too. The ground was just beginning to show some accumulation. Upon my return I made the morning coffee and took Mindy’s to her bedside. She’s so spoiled! She was still sleeping. I made sure that she was awake by placing her warm hands on my snow wet head. I went back downstairs to tend to the rest of my routine. I packed sliced turkey & cheese chunks for lunch then proceeded to fry up some eggs for breakfast. Mindy and Jacob came down around the same time. I could see the wonder in Jacob’s eyes and instantly knew what he was thinking. He was seeking good news about the ultimate outcome of the Buckeye game, which he exited at the slaughter’s onset. Mindy broke the bad news at his prompting. As expected, he began crying real tears. His despair only heightened as he began thrusting his elbows against the hallway wall. Damn! Mindy asked him to stop. After several seconds he did. We did our best to console him. In the end, I told Mindy that it was probably a very good lesson in life for Jacoby. We all moved on. At 7:20am the van departed with Mindy, Jacob, and the sleepy Bella in tow. Bella successfully managed to NOT wake her mother through the night earning her the privilege of Leapster access. I readied for work. Before leaving the house I played guitar for about five minutes. I wore one of my new mock turtle necks today - the brown one. I arrived to work just before 8am. As one might expect, the mood was somber. There was no boasting and no visible Buckeye paraphernalia being paraded around. Instead, there was an eerie silence. But after the first hour passed, I began to hear folks discussing the game and eventually took part myself. It’s all part of the healing process. Life goes on and so does work. We got busy and soon my mind was off of football and onto business. Runtime came around quickly. I left for the gym at roughly 12:45pm, just like usual. I dressed for the cooler temps by adding an extra layer – a wind shirt - and wearing gloves. That proved ideal given the conditions. The run was almost effortless. After my run I was eager to get back and get some food in my belly. I worked while I consumed my packed lunch. I worked aggressively right up until 5:10pm when I packed up my stuff and headed for home. Mindy suggested bunless cheeseburgers for dinner. That sounded perfect to me. And by the time I got home, she had dinner well underway. I walked Ykraps towards the west. The wind was really kicking up making obvious the wind chill, which was the coldest of the winter. I couldn’t wait to be back at home. The house smelt strongly of burgers and onions – very sweet and very nice. Along with the burgers we finished off the scalloped potatoes. Later, for dessert, we shared a piece of chocolate pie brought home from Gloria’s Sunday night. Still very yummy! After the kids were tucked neatly in their beds, Mindy and I spent a few quiet minutes talking in front of a warm fire. It was very pleasant. However, Mindy was exhausted and desired an early bedtime. She headed to bed around 8:30pm. I chose to stay up and watch the Buckeye basketball game, read, and enjoy a bowl of popcorn just like the old days. I read about 20 pages and ate the entire bowl of popcorn. I thought about popping a second bag but didn’t. Around 10:10pm I called it a night and went to bed.

Fear the Nut?

1) Just a Nut 2) Everyone's ready for the game 3) pregame interview It should come as no surprise that Monday’s wake-up came easier than most. After all, it was national championship Monday. The Buckeyes would play for their second national championship in the last four years later in the day. And most Buckeye fans were more than confident that our team would put on one hell of a show. Naturally, I was pumped. That aside, it was like most other Mondays. I was up doing my exercises and walking Ykraps before the cock crowed. It was a tad blustery and very windy outdoors. The clouds that hung overhead were being blown to the east at a very fast clip giving way to clear skies & stars to our immediate west. I noticed a trash bag from our overflowing trash can had blown out and onto the street. I promptly reloaded it into the can as the garbage guy generally arrives just after 6am. My hands got cold and achy during our walk. It was plenty cold enough for gloves. My hands, for whatever reason, are more sensitive to cold than most others. Plus, they crack and dry somewhat easily in the winter. Too much exposure to bitter cold temps during my Time Warner days I suspect. As usual, I poured our coffee once back inside. I took Mindy hers and placed it on the night stand. She reported being overtly tired, mostly from dealing with Bella five different times during the night. All of her wake ups were unwarranted. This has gotten progressively worse over the last week or so. I returned downstairs to meditate, read, and ready some food. I had tuna fish and fruit already in the fridge at work from last Friday, so I would only need nuts and a salad. That cut some prep time out of my morning. I made fried eggs and cut fruit for breakfast. Mindy was downstairs in her Buckeye garb by 7:00am ready to eat. Jacob wasn’t far behind and full of energy. He was already psyched for the big game! Bella, of course, was still asleep. Seems she was too tired to get up after getting her mother up so many times during the night. J Mindy loaded and warmed the van before fetching Bella from her bed. When she finally did, she simply scooped her up in her jammies and whisked her off to the van. They were gone by their usual 7:20am. I took a quick shower then dressed in jeans and my brand new OSU sweatshirt. I guess you could say it was informally jean day. Before leaving the house I decided to bring in all four of Mindy’s small Xmas trees. There were two on the deck and two on the front porch. Three of the four were lying over from the moderately heavy winds. Now the only remaining Xmas decoration, inside or out, was the large wreath hanging at the peak of the garage. I-270 traffic was frighteningly light for a Monday. I guessed that many took the day off for the national championship game. Not sure how that works but the eyes don’t lie. I arrived to work just a smidgeon after 8am. The parking lot was emptier than usual, too. In our center, the mood was light and the energy high. Everyone was dressed in their Buckeye garb and upbeat for the game. While work was only moderately busy for the center overall, I was very busy. We had a handful of ‘carryovers’ from the weekend that required my attention. As usual, I worked hard right up until runtime. I was in the gym by 12:55pm. I dressed in an extra layer since the temperature was barely above freezing. It was 34 degrees. And since I’ve become accustom to mid 40’s or higher, I even wore my running gloves and a warm fleece hat. All that gear made it just a tad warm, but I survived. There was a very stiff wind blowing almost directly out of the west that challenged me all the way out. Thankfully, it served me well on the return. I was back to my office by 2:15pm after a shower & then a short visit with my boss. I was hungry and looking forward to eating my packed tuna salad, even if it was four days old. And except for the slightly limp lettuce, it tasted as fresh as ever. It was yummy! I couldn’t say the same for the fruit, though. It was terrible. I threw most of it away. The rest of the afternoon went smoothly. Most folks were talking some heavy duty Buckeye smack by now. I left work at 5:10pm after making certain that all of my I’s were dotted and my T’s were crossed. I was home by 5:21pm, helped along by very light traffic. The kids were pumped, especially Jacob. I noticed Mindy making tacos for dinner. Yummy! I unloaded my gym bag, threw my running clothes in the dryer, then leashed up Ykraps for his evening walk. While I was busy tending to my chores, Bella was having a full blown melt down over losing her Leapster for the night. This was punishment for “waking the mommy” five times the night before. I guess the best way to influence desired behavior is to hit ‘em where it hurts. And right now, for Bella, it’s taking her Leapster. She’s never been one to leave you wondering how she feels about anything. She’s noisy! She sat on the steps to the upstairs crying and pleading for it back. Mindy held her ground, however. Eventually Bella conceded. She promised NOT to wake Mindy tonight, which would earn it back come Tuesday. While walking Ykraps, he took a huge troublesome dump. I wouldn’t normally make to big a deal about it except for the fact that he couldn’t shake the turd loose. Oh boy! On closer observation, it looked like he had eaten a paper towel, and it wasn’t coming out easily. It just hung there, largely still in tact. Finally, after several pushes and thrusts, he was able to pass the Bounty. He had a distraught look on his face while dealing with the problem. Back at home, I settled down in front of the PC to blog while Mindy put the finishing touches on our Mexican feast. I had enough time to post Saturday and Sunday complete with pictures. However, I would later learn, thanks to Mindy, that they were both in dire need of editing. But what can I say? You can most often tell when I haven’t proof read my entries. I’ve never been one to have thoughts flow gracefully mind to hand. I enjoyed a few tacos, as well as a large helping of leftover scalloped potatoes. Still yummy! By the time we finished cleaning up the kitchen it was darn near 7:00pm – 1.5hrs from game time. Mindy hurried to get the kids bathed and ready for bed while I watched the Fox pre-game. The next 1.5 hours went extremely fast. All the hype and anticipation was about to end. Kick-off was minutes away. If facial expressions could tell a story, I thought Jim Tressel looked a bit disturbed waiting there in the tunnel. It was almost like he knew his team was flat. The opening kick-off put most minds at ease. We ran the damn thing back for a touchdown! Just like that, the Buckeyes were up 7-0 only sixteen seconds into the game. Sadly, that was about it for the Buckeyes. No more highlights and no more magic! From there on we got our asses handed to us, plain and simple. No excuses. I felt a little like a fair weather fan turning off the TV, but I did. I knew I had to get up at 5:30am and it was already 11:30pm. But there was no hope for the Bucks tonight! Maybe next year!

Sunday dinner at Gloria's

1) Family gathering at Gloria's 2) Mia in her stipes 3) Happy socks! Mindy graciously allowed me to sleep while she got up & dealt with the children. I found my way downstairs at 8:30am. For whatever reason, I felt tired even after I slept nine hours. It might have something to do with the way I slept, which wasn’t comfortably. Despite going to bed under clear skies, thick cloud cover was back, and I could tell that it had been raining through the night, too. The kids were already making cinnamon rolls with their momma when I made my way to the family to begin whipping out my sit-ups, push-ups, and curls. It wasn’t long before I was outside walking Ykraps on a cool and cloudy morning. I was surprised at how cool it was. When I got back home I checked the temperature and saw that it was barely above freezing. That seemed chilly given all the warm weather we’ve had of late. I enjoyed a cinnamon roll before going on a run. It was scrumptious! Mindy asked if I’d like a hot breakfast after my run, and if so, what. Scrambled eggs and scalloped potatoes sounded really good to me. She agreed! She put the potatoes in the oven just as I was heading out for my run. She asked if it were OK to build a fire while I was gone too. I checked to make sure she knew how. I mean, hey, you never know. I took the big loop today, running Newell to Trabue, Trabue to Hague, and Hague to Western Run then home. As I round the last curve towards home my thoughts instantly turned to food. I was hungry! Breakfast was just about ready when I got back and settled. Mindy takes such good care of me. Of course that’s when she’s not trying to poison me. Just as we were enjoying our first class breakfast it began to rain. The cozy fire Mindy built looked all the cozier. I grabbed some more logs from the pile and got it roaring. We lounged around the fire in family room for the next hour or so until Jimaken called. Jimaken called to make arrangements to pick-up the kids for the Manken family hour at his parents. I think he called from the airport after spending the weekend in Boston. He was there about twenty minutes later to pick them up. After the kids left with Jimaken, Mindy and I took a shower and dressed for a Kohl’s shopping trip. We headed out the door around 2pm. We drove to the ghetto Kohl’s on West Broad St – Mindy’s preference, and it’s all about keeping Princess happy. It poured rain all the way. We dashed inside dodging most of the rain. Once inside we parted ways almost immediately. I went towards the men’s department, she towards the women’s. I was surprised at how expensive jeans have become, at least the ones that are considered fashionable. I chose a pair of Levi 567’s that were on sale for $34.99 – damn! But they were the cut and style I was looking for. I also grabbed a couple mock turtle necks that were on sale, two for the price of one - $20. Enough for me! I then went on a quest to find Mindy. I eventually found her rummaging through the 60%-off racks with a monster pile of clothes already in hand. She moved at a pace I am unfamiliar with. Women become something different when shopping for clothes. I knew better than to get in her way. Instead, it’s just smile and wave, boys! Finally, she was ready for checkout. The hope I held out that it would’ve stopped raining was all for not. I was still coming down by the bucket load. I retrieved the Trooper so that Mindy could remain dry at the door. I used my shopping bag as an umbrella. We called Jimaken as we were heading home. He was just loading the car to bring the kids home. Good timing! We got home a little after 3pm. I talked Mindy into washing our new jeans. Soon the kids were back. I found my way to my reading chair at 3:20pm in hopes of stealing a few winks before leaving for Gloria’s. Mindy was tolerant of my desire despite her own, which was to be there early. I slept for about 15 minutes. That’s all I needed. I woke feeling rested and ready. I brushed my teeth, freshened up, and we were out the door. I was looking forward to Sunday dinner at Gloria’s. We hadn’t gotten together since Xmas and not since December 17th for a normal Sunday dinner. We were having homemade chicken and dumplings and chocolate pie – a meal one shouldn’t miss! We arrived first! That always feels good – earns us a check in the “good” column! It wasn’t long, however, before everyone else arrived. Ten minutes later everyone was present and accounted for – all but niece Julie, who called last minute to report not feeling well. We visited for spell just like usual. Dinner was ready and served by 5pm. The chicken and dumplings were to die for delicious! Along with them we had mashed potatoes and rolls. Yummy! After two healthy helpings, Jacob asked if I would go to the lower level to play basketball with him. I did. He and I played Nerf hoops for the next 45 minutes or so. Before dessert was served, we retreated to the adjacent TV room to catch-up on the NFL action. Earlier in the day the Patriots had easily beaten the Jets. The current game pitted the Giants against the Eagles. Soon it was chocolate pie time. My piece arrived at my setting just as I did. Perfecto! It was delicious! The crust was flakier than ever. I could’ve eaten more, but didn’t. Instead, I practiced measured restraint. :) After dessert we chatted for a spell then readied for departure. It was near 7:15pm when we left. Craig & Jeff left before us since they were blocking us in the drive. They’re leaving for their vacation home in hopefully sunny Florida at the end of this week. We wished them well. Bella negotiated for a brownie once at home. Lucky for her, Jacob knew of one hiding in the pantry. Once we arrived and carried in our stuff, I leashed up Ykraps for our evening stroll. It was still a little rainy but the heavy stuff was history. We walked our usual Sunday night path and Ykraps took care of both number one and two. Before heading back inside we rolled the trash out to the curb. Monday’s trash day, and we had ten days worth. I helped tuck in the kids after Mindy readied them for bed. After they were in bed we both enjoyed a glass of wine – her a Shiraz, me a Riesling. We tuned into Fox for some mind numbing stupid cartoon humor. I look forward to this most Sunday nights - The Simpsons, American Dad, and Family Guy. Family Guy was especially wrong! We went to bed after the first episode of Family Guy. The second was a rerun, but still funny! I dosed off somewhere during.

Home Cookin'

1) Jim & Mindy posing for a dinner shot 2) The meal: Cornish hen, Scalloped potatoes, and asparagus 3) Bella called for this shot after seeing the sunny shadow cast from her sippy cup. She's certainly got an eye for art. I slept about as good as one could hope for Friday night. I didn’t fully open my eyes until almost 9am Saturday morning. That’s really late for me. The kids had been up for a while but were playing nicely in one or the other's bedroom. A check of my head thankfully confirmed the absence of any residual effect from the codeine I took on Thursday. I was able to leap out of bed full of piss and energy. It was the best that I'd felt in almost a week. I like to exercise without the presence of others, but this morning I had the kids at my feet and side as I carried out my morning ritual. However, all things considered, that was a small price for the precious extra long rest. By 9:30am I was walking Ykraps. He was more than ready. The morning air was brisker than it had been all week, and the sky was clouded over, too. It wasn’t supposed to be a banner weekend weatherwise by any means. I returned to some hot Starbucks. It was very tasty! Mindy finally made her way downstairs and we ended up sipping our morning coffee together. We reviewed our agenda which was relatively blank. We both agreed how nice that was. Mindy talked about going shopping for jeans later in the day, perhaps to Kohl’s. While I tinkeried on the computer, Mindy and the kids began taking ornaments off the Xmas tree in preparation for its dismantling. I readied for a run. I hit the door somewhere near 10:45am – a late run by any measure. I took the Trabue Rd route. There was nothing too memorable about the run other than it being a tick on the chart, and another opportunity to think about life and how fortunate I am. Mindy baked lemon poppy seed muffins while I was running. Once back, I couldn’t resist the urge. I had one or two. By now the tree was all but naked. The only decorations that remained were the lights, the new tree topper, and some spiraled tinsel. I retrieved the step ladder from the garage and finished the job. Next, I took down the Charlie Brown tree in the living room. That went quick. In the meantime, Mindy was busy packing away her manger scene. Now, the only remnant of Xmas was the wreath hanging from the balcony over the family room, but Mindy took care of that, too. The day was moving along lazily. I spent about an hour blogging Friday. It was already 1:30pm and we were both still unshowered – Mindy in her PJ’s and me in my running clothes. The kids played all afternoon while Mindy and I refereed. It felt really good to have such a day. Jacob watched football through the afternoon ( a college bowl) and kept on me about when the NFL playoff games would start. The kid loves his football! Mindy pulled some Cornish hens from the freezer around 1pm. We planned on making a nice home cooked dinner that evening. As the afternoon progressed, it became apparent that we’d be eating a late dinner – after the kids were fed. We concocted a list of items we needed from the grocery to round out the night’s menu. I agreed to do the shopping. I showered and left the house sometime around 4:45pm – just after the Colts game started. I decided to shop at Giant Eagle. There, I figured I stood the best chance of finding everything on our list. We were planning to make some gourmet scalloped potatoes to accompany our Cornish hens. The recipe called for gruyere cheese and shallots, among a rather lengthy list of other miscellaneous items. I found everything we needed but it seemed to take forever. When it was all said and done, I had spent $59. Ouch! I was home before 6pm. Mindy and Bella took Ykraps on his evening walk so that I could get busy with dinner. The first thing I did was prep the Cornish hens for baking. I had to rinse them under cool water for a few minutes since there was solid ice inside the body cavity. I had them ready for roasting in short order. It was nothing special, just garlic, salt, pepper, and butter inside and out. The potatoes took a while to prep as I was following a new recipe. I sautéed the shallots and garlic in butter before adding heavy whipping cream and milk. Eventually I added just under three pounds of redskin potatoes sliced at about 1/8 of an inch. I topped it off with four ounces of gruyere cheese and then about two tablespoons of grated parmesan. While all of that cooked, Mindy steamed some asparagus. It soon became a matter of good timing. Everything smelt terrific. I was especially eager to try those taters! We joked that they cost $30 to make. As the clock approached 8pm dinner was ready to eat – finally. We created two simple place settings then sat down to a quiet dinner for two. Everything was fantastic. We ate those hens down to the bare carcass. For entertainment, we threw the whole carcasses out back for the wildlife to enjoy. We were too full to cut into the keylime pie we bought. After cleaning up the dishes we watched the first half of the Dallas/Seattle game in the family room. Mindy was ready to crash. We headed to bed before 10pm. I got my second wind and ended up watching the entire second half from bed. I am glad that I did, too. It was an unlikely and exciting finish!

OTR

1) Todd & Dan 2) The weekly firkin 3) Jeff & Tom 4) Mindy 5) Chuck 6) Dan & Paul (butt crack) Well, I lived! I slept for almost eight hours and woke knowing that the cold I have harbored since New Year's Eve was on its way out. But believe it or not, the mind numbing feeling that the codeine laced cough syrup left me with still lingered. I was plenty well enough to begin and enjoy my day, but the effects remained. My mind felt numb directly behind my eyes and any quick movement one direction or another left me feeling a bit woozy. I was happy it was Friday and to celebrate, I began my day with a round of vigorous exercise. The beautifully clear skies and full moon that we've enjoyed for the past couple of days was nothing but a memory. Outside it was cloudy & wet, but no rain was currently falling. The temperature at 6am was 57 degrees. That's amazing! Ykraps and I enjoyed the spring like temps as we completed our morning walk. Back home I poured two cups of coffee, one for Mindy and one for me. I placed Mindy's on my night stand while at the same time waking her. After a brief hug I went downstairs to carry-on with the rest of my morning routine. I grabbed my coffee and sat at the computer where I read the Daily OM. Today's message was about simplifying schedule - essentially knowing when to say no to allow that greater "yes" that burns inside to emerge! I checked email and read the Yahoo headlines before proceeding with food prep. I didn't need to make an entire days lunch since I only ate my salad during my codeine coma. That shaved a few precious minutes off of my prep time. I made scrambled eggs topped with cheddar cheese and a side of pineapple and cantaloupe for breakfast. Jacob and Bella were soon downstairs and readying for their morning at Grandma Sharon's, although Bella would be going to preschool around 10am. They left the house near 7:20am as usual. I proceeded to the shower. Once I was ready for work I took a few extra minutes to pay some bills & do some banking. I emailed Tom's cell phone number to work email address so that I could call and hopefully arrange our evening. I left the house near 7:45am. Mindy left me a greeting card behind my personal washbowl pretty much apologizing for the codeine poisoning - I think. But really, she should've bought me flowers! I arrived to work just after 8:00am. I was in a jovial mood. I had a lot to be thankful for. I was feeling better than I had all week and it was Friday. Work was moderately busy but light for a Friday. Come 10am I gave Tom a call but got a ring/no answer. Not too much later I received a call from him. We hadn't talked in over two years. It was refreshing to hear his voice. We chatted briefly locking up plans for later this evening. I assured him that I would pass the word onto others. After our call I did just that. I called a buddy of ours at Chase (Jeff), and then sent a email to all others letting them know when and where we'd be meeting. I was gradually feeling better and better. I left for my run just before 1pm. We had received buckets of rain all morning, but I was hopeful that it would stop for my run. As it turned out, it was raining when I left out the door, but it stopped just before the halfway point and didn't start up again. I got only marginally wet. The temperature hovered around 60 degrees. It was quite warm for January 5th. I over heard someone saying that we're on pace to set a record for the least amount of snow fall over a two year period. If that happens, it won't break my heart. But jus the same, I realize it'll take just one big snow storm to bust that up. So far this winter we've had only a trace of snow and that was on December 7th, I believe. A look ahead shows us in no danger of snow or sub freezing temperatures either. I finished my run and returned to my office feeling pretty darn good. Surprisingly, I could still feel the effects of the codeine. What I need is another eight hours of sleep, I think, to completely shake it off. The rest of the afternoon whizzed by. I was looking forward to a restful weekend with Princess and my friends. Just before leaving work I sent daughter Lindsey an email reminding her of her insurance bill, and then talked with Mindy. She asked that I pick-up a pizza for the kids and Ashley on my way home. I left for home at 5:10pm. I called Minelli's as I pulled out of the parking lot and onto Britton Rd. I arrived at Minelli's at 5:30pm and my pizza was ready. I was home five minutes later. The kids were excited to see me as was Mindy. As she often does, Mindy helped me with all of my work gear. I grabbed a slice of pizza as I leashed up Ykraps for his evening walk. It was a rather quick walk. Back in the house I ate some more pizza. Jacob was crabbing about the pizza I bought. He wanted a cheese only pizza. He goes back and forth. And since I thought I was buying pizza primarily for the kids, I bought only one - pep and cheese. I ended up eating more than I thought I would. About 6:20pm, Ashley arrived with Olivia. Mindy readied for our evening out while Bella and I lounged in our bed watching none other than Sponge Bob (she watches the same video every single day). I held Olivia for a spell and so did Mindy before we left. She's so precious! We were headed to OTR (On The Rocks) a bar in Dublin off of Franz Rd. It's an old hang out of mine and a the starting point for an evening out almost every Friday for a couple of years. I haven't been there in well over a year and maybe only twice in the last three years, however. We arrived around 7:00pm. There sat Tom in an old familiar seat. He was there with Jeff, Todd, and Dan, all co-workers or ex-co-workers of mine. The bar was sparsely populated, unlike days of old when it was standing room only. As I looked around there were a few familiar faces scattered about. I gave Tom a man hug and then shook hands with everyone else. I followed up by introducing Mindy to everyone and then took a seat.. Eventually I made my way to the bar to order drinks. Their selection was weak. I ordered two Guinness Stouts. As our evening progressed, a few other current and former co-workers arrived (Chuck, Eric, and Chris). We hung around for the bands first few songs. We were there a good two hours. Mindy and I said our goodbyes and left for Barleys around 9:45pm. Brother Tommy called minutes earlier to tell Mindy he was heading to Barleys. We ended up meeting him there. When we arrived, he was sitting with friend Bob enjoying a beer. Also there was another co-worker, Matt, whom I had told of tonight's activities. He was hopeful that the OTR crowd was right behind, but they weren't. He and his girlfriend Stephanie hung with the Barley's crowd for awhile. he eventually left and headed towards OTR in hopes of catching the others still carrying on. We hung at Barleys eating wings and barbeque and drinking tasty libations until nearly 11:30pm. When we arrived home Olivia was asleep and Ashley was surfing MySpace. We paid Ashley and soon she was on her way. We went directly to bed. Mindy's stomach was bothering her.

A Drug induced Coma!

Codeine is a member of the drug class opiates. Opiates include all naturally occurring drugs with morphine-like effects such as codeine and all semi and fully synthetic drugs with morphine-like effects such as heroin and meperidine (Demerol). Codeine was first discovered as a natural constituent of opium in very small concentrations, in the range of 0.7% - 2.5% by weight. Most codeine found in pharmaceutical products today is synthetically produced via the methylation of morphine. I was out of bed at 5:30 on the nose and feeling significantly better than the two previous mornings. My head cold seemed to be migrating to my chest as I couldn’t shake the urge to cough. As I went about my morning routine I figured I’d choke down some cough medicine before high tailing it off to work. I was through with my morning exercises in no time flat. Before I knew it I was walking Ykraps under continued clear skies. The moon sat relatively high in the NW sky and was as bright and beautiful as the night before. As our walk concluded my thoughts turned towards the morning’s first cup of coffee. I took Mindy hers and sat it on her lingerie dresser top since she was already up making the bed. I headed back downstairs to meditate, make food, and surf. After meditation I moved quickly onto food prep. I once again made tuna fish salad for the two of us. It took little effort since I whipped up a double batch the morning before. Our breakfast today consisted of fried eggs and fruit. This would be Jacob’s first day back to school in slightly over two weeks. He was very excited to be returning to school. I guess we’re all sick of seeing one another so much! J Before Mindy left, I asked if she could round me up some cough medicine since my cold moved to my throat. She obliged by bringing down two different types and leaving them on the island before she left. I went ahead and took my shower, dressed, and primped. I was ready to go kind of late. It was 7:45am when I made it downstairs. I didn’t push myself, however. I don’t like to rush! I took my time feeling better about leaving with all things in order. I packed the Trooper and warmed the engine then returned inside for some quick guitar and such. And just before walking out the door I picked one of the two cough syrups and took a big swig. I picked the non-child formula thinking it had a better chance of working and then left for work. I made it to work late by most accounts – 8:30am. But I was just happy to be there greased and ready for a productive day. I got busy right away and felt full of energy. I sat in my office and tore into my work with a gleam in my eye. After quickly interacting with an engineer or two, I returned to my office for more action. After a quick turn of my head I felt a little light headed. As I often would, I leaped to my feet and attempted to shake it off. That made my stomach dip! Oh golly! I sat back down in a hurry. The urge to sleep was coming on fast and furious. At first I didn’t know what to do. I considered heading home but didn’t want to succumb to using a sick day so early in the year. I abruptly closed my office door and laid my head on my gym bag. It was approximately 9:20am. I could hear voices and foot traffic outside my door but eventually went blank. I raised my head to check the time and found it to be 10:40am! I was shocked. I thought maybe ten minutes had gone by. That got my pulse racing. I tried to pull it together. I squared my glasses, opened my door and walked to the restroom. I returned minutes later feeling only incrementally better. I called Mindy since she had left a VM seemingly minutes earlier. I asked her what was in that cough medicine. She of course asked which one. I told her the orange one. Oops! She forgot to tell me it contained codeine. Great. She asked how much I took. I don’t know, I just took a “swig”. Shit, I was stoned, dizzy, sleepy, and nauseous. I could hardly finish my conversation and hung up. I quickly revisited my position with head in gym bag. I was out again. I came to and checked on my guys a couple of times. I woke again at run time and without giving it any thought I went for a run. I could barely feel my feet under me and my face felt almost numb behind my eyes. I ran slower than usual but noticed it took little if any effort. I thought at first that I might cut it short by a mile but ultimately toughed it out and did my entire 5 miles. I was sweating like crazy to be sure. As usual, the endorphin rush took most if not all the symptoms away but only temporarily. By the time I made it back to my office I was once again fading. I had enough time to ingest my packed salad however, but fell short of eating the rest. I needed to put my head back down. I slept for about another 40 minutes. At 3pm I got up and began interacting with my team again. I could not hide how I felt. I am certain that I looked like death warmed over. I was having difficulty functioning and decided I would leave come 4pm. I informed my boss and left promptly at 4pm. I couldn’t wait to get home and jump in bed. That’s all I could think of. Mindy promised to take care of everything at home, including walking Ykraps. I was grateful. After dropping my stuff pretty much at her feet I headed upstairs and into my Pink Floyd PJ’s and then into bed. Within minutes I began feeling better. The ill feeling began to subside although the lingering effects stuck around all evening. Mindy made Cream of Chicken and rice – a fave of mine. I got up to eat while her and Bella walked Ykraps. Jacob had left wit his dad to go see a monster truck. While Mindy and Bella wee out I built a fire. We haven’t had a fire in several weeks due mostly to the spring like temps. It felt awfully cozy snuggling up to a fire wrapped in a blanket along with my bed pillow. When the girls returned, we all sat down for dinner. It was yummy! I felt good enough to help Mindy clean up. We did that pretty quickly. I even felt up to eating a piece of my famous chocolate chip cheesecake. Jim showed up with Jacob just as I was eating my dessert. I joked with him about Mindy trying to poison me. You know, come to think of it, was she? Hmmm? Mindy got the kids upstairs and bathed between 6:30 & 7pm. I played on the PC and sent an email to my old friend Tom’s sister hoping to find a means of contacting him. He was supposed to call me over the holidays but hasn’t and he’s leaving for Bahrain on Saturday. That’s so like him not to call. I haven’t seen hi min over two years. Not only is he a good friend but he was my M-F running partner for the better part of two years. It turned out that a mysterious call that came into my cell was him. He left a VM. Later, I received a response to my email too from his sister giving me a number to try. I figured I try it Friday AM. Incidentally, the remote control that Mindy and I turned the house upside down trying to find turned up in no other place than the “remote control” basket. Are you freaking kidding me! That was to Jacob’s delight. He was now able to watch TV from bed. Mindy granted him ten minutes of TV time. As it turned out, the Buckeye Texas game was being shown on ONN. He chose that. He’s a football addict! Mindy and I returned to the family room and laid in front of the fire listening to digital cable radio. It was most pleasant. Jacob, on his own, turned off his TV at 8:10pm, just as his mother requested. Good boy! We stayed up until 10pm enjoying the warmth & coziness of the fire. I took a half dose of Nyquil and a tiny squirt of nasal spray before hoping in bed. No more codeine for me!

The wolf moon

1) Sunrise Wednesday AM. 2) Olivia gone limp in Mindy's arms 3) Ash on MySpace 4) Mindy yearbooking 2) Our first full moon of the year - a Wolf Moon It’s was already Wednesday. I woke and got out of bed around 5:45am. And as I rolled out of bed in what must have seemed like a hurry, Mindy reassured me that I wasn’t that far behind. She was right. I was really clogged and my head in a fog. I headed downstairs to pee, exercise, and walk Ykraps. Slowly but surely I began to shake off the cob webs brought about by my cold. I was very grateful for the mild weather for walking Ykraps. Taking on sub zero temps at 6:00am is tough enough, let alone doing with a cold. We were back prepping morning coffee by 6:10am. I took Mindy hers and returned downstairs to begin drinking mine. By 6:25am I started fixing breakfast and packing both of our lunches. This was Mindy’s first day back to school. I made us both some tuna fish salad. Mindy came downstairs smiling and seemingly excited about her return to work. She quipped and asked if it was bad that she was so happy to be returning to work. Of course the answer is no, but one can understand why a mother might feel that way and question her motives. A stay-at-home mother would think of that role as her job/career and would find that to be her center, but once she has a career, that then becomes her center & creative outlet. After doing this for so many years, staying home for a long period of time would become mind numbing. Mindy left for work at her usual. I carried on with the rest of my prep routine. I took the nasal spray and a couple Advil along with me to work just in case. I arrived to work on time. I was dragging a little for my cold but nothing I couldn’t endure. So, endure I did. Work was only moderately busy and we had a staff meeting at 11am. That meeting, as it has many times of late, lasted almost until 1pm. After the meeting I headed to my office to get my gym bag and then for a run. Whether it was the cold medicine, I don’t know, but one thing for sure, I had to pee every thirty minutes or so. It was driving me crazy. I made sure to pee before heading out the door for my run. And unfortunately, I somehow left my running shirt in my bag last night while throwing everything else in the dryer. Consequently, it was still very wet with sweat. I had no choice but to wear it that way. It would warm up after about a mile. Again, with a cold, that only accentuated the misery. But as expected, once I was a mile or so into my run I felt great. I returned from my run feeling refreshed and hungry. After a shower I hurried back to my desk to enjoy my tuna fish salad. The afternoon went quick and I left the office right on time. I think I was home by 5:22pm. Ashley had called me around 4:30pm and asked about downloading some of her photos on my PC. I told her it was OK but to call Mindy so she didn’t come home surprised to find her there. Mindy was grocery shopping after school. When I arrived, both were there as was my little Olivia. Mindy had dinner all but ready. Her and I walked Ykraps while Ashley tended to Olivia. Ashley didn’t seem too excited to share dinner with us since we were having leftover pork and sauerkraut. After I finished eating I gave my undivided attention to Olivia. She’s such a blessing. This allowed time for Ashley to be, well, a twenty year old. She played on the computer, and showed me her MySpace page. She scares with the boys she finds appealing. She’s got an awful lot to learn. The kids were very happy to see Olivia when they arrived home. We all laid together on my bed for a spell. Olivia napped. Jacob and Bella watched a Veggie Tales DVD. Ashley came up to see what was going on and to get Olivia. She was ready to leave. She commented that she had to watch the Veggie Tales in school and didn’t really care for them. Perfect example of had to versus want to. After Ashley left, Mindy got the kids ready for and in bed. Because I was feeling under the weather, I was more than eager to get into bed myself. Before settling down to watch some football I ran outside to get a glimpse of the year’s first official full moon, and a beauty it was. She was sitting there bright, white, and high in the sky. We watched the first half of the Sugar Bowl downstairs, and thought we’d catch the second half from bed. However, I fell asleep as soon as the second half began.

...I just wanna bang on my drum all day

A bit torn, but I am ready. But it’s not so much that I love my job as much as it’s the need to step outside of the gluttony that often accompanies holiday vacations and return to the routine that has served me well, kept me healthy, wealthy, and wise for the past several years. Over the holidays I ate whatever was in front of my face, drank almost every night, and kept a very poor resting schedule. At the same time, however, I know that I need to do that once or twice a year to feel myself. Sadly, I developed a cold New Year’s Eve evening and it was in a full assault at my waking Tuesday morning. Lucky for me, the nasal drops Mindy provided did a wonderful job of opening my sinuses so that I could breathe comfortably through the night. In addition, the half dose of Nyquil I downed just before bed, helped usher in sleep. I woke at 5:25am and felt no worse for the wear. Sure, my cold was there but I expected that. I fought through it and made my way downstairs to begin my old routine. After a week’s vacation I’ve got to stop and think as I go through my routine to make sure I don’t forget or leave out something critical. It wouldn’t be out of the question to leave the house with out my laptop, or worse yet to head down the road without remembering to get dressed. I proceeded ahead of schedule and was out walking Ykraps under something just a short of a full moon (a waxing gibbous) at 5:50am. The sky was crystal clear and the moon freakishly bright. I read recently that our moon in 2007 will be at its highest point above the equator making for the longest moons. Back at home I took another hit of the nasal drops to help relieve my stuffy nose just before beginning my work day prep. And once again, I was very methodical about each step. I carefully carried out each phase, and often thought ahead two or three steps. Unlike me, Mindy would enjoy one more day of holiday vacation. I was careful not to wake her. I did take her coffee and place it by her bedside should she choose to get up. When time came for me to shower I was still as quiet as I could be. I made her aware of her coffee before showering. I made quick work of my prep and was done and ready for work by 7:25am. Downstairs I loaded and warmed the Trooper. The windows were covered with frost. Back inside I grabbed my camera and went to the deck where I took several sunrise pictures. Another Beauty! I left the house at 7:40am. As I drove off to work my head felt like it was in a fog from the cold symptoms. Once at work I hurried inside and to my office for what was the first time since December 22nd. It seemed a little foreign to me. But it didn’t take long for me to get reacquainted. I walked around and greeted those that I hadn’t seen in a couple of weeks and then returned to my office where I chipped away at approximately 800 emails. At first, the morning moved fairly slow, but once 11am rolled around the day began moving at its usual frantic pace. I left for my run around 12:45pm. I checked the temperature just before leaving my office. It was 43 degrees. I took three tissues with me since my nose was dripping almost constantly. Too, my sinuses were burning from using the nasal drops, a negative side effect, but one I was willing to accept for the ability to breathe freely. The run was tough but nothing I haven’t done before. Thankfully, the mild weather took the edge off. It could’ve been below zero! After my run I returned to my desk to eat my packed lunch. I packed the usual – a vegetable salad, fruit cup, and sliced turkey over lettuce. Unfortunately, the cucumbers I put in the salad were old and gave the entire entrée a less than desirable taste, but I ate it anyhow. What can I say, I was hungry! The afternoon moved quickly. I had a couple of escalations that kept me busy until after 5:30pm. I didn’t mind. It felt good to be busy again. I called Mindy on my way home. She was busy making our dinner – cheeseburgers and peas. I got home at just about 6pm. We all walked Ykraps together. Jacob brought along his new football and played toss in the dark with his momma. As I stated before, he’s become a football junky. When we returned we all sat down to eat our dinner together. I was very nice. After dinner we cleaned up the mess then moved the small TV from the basement playroom to Jacob’s room. Our plan was to give him the ability to watch a little football before falling asleep. Unfortunately, the TV requires the remote to switch it from the video mode to off-air or cable, and we haven’t seen the remote since the move. Mindy looked all over, but with no luck. Jacob wasn’t too pleased. After the kids were in bed, Mindy and I retreated to the family room where we tuned into the Orange Bowl and the Buckeye basketball game against Indiana. We flipped back and for the between the two. Mindy kindly massaged my sinuses, head, and neck for almost 30 minutes. It felt awesome given my cold. We headed up to bed with just about 6 minutes left in the basketball game. I took another half dose of Nyquil and used another less effective nasal spray. We watched the rest of the basketball game from bed. The Buckeyes won their Big Ten opener!